Which of the following is the BEST interpretation of the Supreme Court decision in McCullough v. Maryland?

a.The federal government cannot tax state institutions.
b. States have no power to control federal institutions within their borders.
c. States can create federal laws to suit their own needs.
d. States can nullify federal laws that they believe are unconstitutional.

To determine the best interpretation of the Supreme Court decision in McCullough v. Maryland, it is important to understand the context and outcome of the case. McCulloch v. Maryland was a landmark Supreme Court case decided in 1819. The case centered on the issue of whether the state of Maryland had the power to tax a federal bank, specifically the Second Bank of the United States.

The Court's decision in McCulloch v. Maryland had broader implications for the balance of power between the federal government and the states. The main issue at hand was whether the federal government had the authority to create a national bank and whether states had the power to tax it. In a unanimous decision, the Court ruled in favor of the federal government, asserting that the necessary and proper clause of the U.S. Constitution granted the federal government the implied power to create a national bank and that states did not have the power to tax federal institutions.

Given this context, the best interpretation of the Supreme Court decision in McCulloch v. Maryland is:
b. States have no power to control federal institutions within their borders.

This interpretation aligns with the Court's ruling and the broader implications of the case. It establishes that the federal government has certain implied powers that cannot be impeded by state actions, such as the power to create a national bank. It also highlights the supremacy of federal law over state law in certain circumstances.

To reach this interpretation, it is essential to review the case's details, including the specific arguments presented by both parties, the Court's rationale, and the overall impact of the decision.